The female satyr had hidden herself well, standing against the rocks and using Misty as cover. Her brown skin and grey fur blended seamlessly into her surroundings, but Hades knew what to look for, and he discovered the satyr's hiding place before Lexi could.

"Come out, friend," Hades said as he climbed onto the plateau, unconcerned about his nudity. "You are welcome to enjoy the river."

With a soft giggle, the satyr stepped away from the wall and into the dappled light of the cave. She had the legs of a goat but the upper body of a human, and a short bob of hair framed her youthful face. The horns on her temples curved into a semi-circle, reminding Lexi of a longhorn sheep, but her breasts did not.

"Do satyrs speak English?" Lexi asked Hades hopefully.

"Yes. Like Centaurs, they possess the ability to learn and recite multiple languages."

Lexi climbed out of the water, following Hades's lead, and she offered the satyr a friendly smile. "Hello, my name is Lexi. Do you have a name?"

The satyr nodded as she put more distance between herself and Misty, who refused to give up an inch of the plateau. "I am called Pesca."

"Pesca is a lovely name. I have never met a satyr before. I hope we can be friends."

Pesca smiled, showing off rather sharp canines. "Are you a goddess? I would like to be friends with a goddess."

"I am. I recently moved here and I have few friends." Lexi held her hand out, causing Pesca to retreat. "Don't be afraid. This is how you greet a friend where I come from. We shake hands. May I show you?"

Pesca lifted her hand to compare it to Lexi's. Apart from Pesca's hairy knuckles and thick fingernails, there was no difference between them. Lexi grasped Pesca's fingers gently, shaking them up and down, and Pesca giggled before pulling away to hide them behind her back. "That is a strange custom, but I like it. Your body is warm, but you have not much fur." She pointed to Lexi's pubic hair, and Hades cleared his throat beside her.

"I do not mean to pry," he said. "But I suspect you are not here to drink from the river. Young satyrs rarely leave their herd after dark. Do you require assistance?"

Pesca lowered her large doe eyes. "No, Lord Hades. I... I have come to meet a friend. Someone my family would not approve of. Please, forgive me."

"There's no need to ask my forgiveness, young one. Your decisions are your own." Hades placed a comforting hand on Pesca's shoulder while Lexi scanned the gorge for Pesca's friend. She didn't have to search long before she saw the horse standing on a plateau across the river. Only this horse did not look like Misty. He was clearly male, with the muscular torso of a man and a hind-end resembling a dapple gray. He was a centaur. The first one Lexi had seen up close, and she was captivated by his mane of white hair as it waved in the torrent created by the falls.

"Is that your someone?" Lexi asked, gesturing across the water.

Pesca looked over at the centaur, and they regarded each other with a mutual nod. "Yes, that is Emeron. We are in love."

Lexi had seen the look of love before, when her friend Jenny Rogan got hung up on Zac Adams and blew an entire lacrosse season. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. These two were probably banned from seeing each other because they were from different races. It was a tale as old as time.

Lexi grabbed Hades's hand and tugged on it. "Let's leave these two lovebirds to enjoy themselves. I think Misty is ready to go home."

"I think you're right," Hades said, acknowledging Emeron with a nod as Lexi slipped on her panties. He collected their clothes, arranging his shirt across Misty's back before hoisting Lexi onto it. As Misty took to the air, Lexi waved to Emeron, hoping the centaur would understand her gesture. He maintained a proud stance on the rock, as if he was not ashamed to be there. It gave Lexi hope for the couple.

Ignoring her roiling stomach, she called down to the pair before they were out of earshot. "I wish you both a long and passionate relationship!"

Hades chuckled as they flew toward the palace. "You are going to earn a reputation. The first goddess to promote equal rights among the species."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Of course not, but you might want to consider the consequences before stirring the proverbial pot."

Lexi made sure he could hear her dismissive snort before she kissed his cheek. "Like every good leader, you have a knack for playing both sides."

He tightened his arms around her as he offered his reply. "Is that such a bad thing?"